unknown, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #29945, Very Hard
zhuō(zhuo1) T1
1awkward
2clumsy
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March 24, 2026
拙zhuō(zhuo1)
The character 拙 (zhuō) conveys the meaning of being awkward, clumsy, or inelegant. It is often used to describe someone's lack of skill or finesse, whether in physical actions or in expression. In a polite context, it can refer to one's own abilities or possessions, often to express humility.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#29945DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, humility is highly valued, and using 拙 to describe one's own work or skills is a common way to show modesty, especially in formal settings. This reflects the cultural norm of not boasting about one's achievements.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person trying to perform a delicate dance but keeps tripping over their own feet, looking awkward and clumsy. The character 拙 has a hand (扌) on the left, suggesting action, and a 'bent' form on the right, hinting at inelegance. The pronunciation 'zhuō' sounds like 'draw,' which you might do clumsily if you're not skilled.
Meanings of 拙
zhuō(zhuo1)
1awkward
2clumsy
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 拙
拙Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#29945Frequency Rank
Podcast: 拙
Podcast: 拙
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AI Study Notes for 拙
Quick Contrast
笨 (bèn) - use 拙 (zhuō) when emphasizing a lack of finesse or skill in a more nuanced, humble way, whereas 笨 (bèn) is more straightforwardly about being stupid or foolish.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 拙 with its similar-sounding counterpart, 卓 (zhuó), which means 'outstanding.' Remember that 拙 has a negative connotation, while 卓 is positive. Use 拙 in informal settings or when you want to express humility about your own abilities.
HSK Study Tips
As this character is not in the HSK list, learners should focus on recognizing it as a descriptor of skill level. It connects to other adjectives describing abilities, such as 能 (néng, can) and 差 (chà, poor). Understanding these relationships can help with broader vocabulary building.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 拙 by using it in contexts where a more neutral term is appropriate. For instance, saying '这幅画太拙了' (This painting is too clumsy) might sound too harsh; a better choice could be '这幅画有点简单' (This painting is a bit simple).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拙
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 出 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half出 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 拙? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 拙?
Decomposition of 拙
IDS Structure⿰扌出
拙Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
出chu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 拙?
How to say awkward in Chinese
“awkward” in Chinese is拙zhuō
The character 拙 (zhuō) conveys the meaning of being awkward, clumsy, or inelegant. It is often used to describe someone's lack of skill or finesse, whether in physical actions or in expression. In a polite context, it can refer to one's own abilities or possessions, often to express humility.
When to use 拙
A common mistake is to confuse 拙 with its similar-sounding counterpart, 卓 (zhuó), which means 'outstanding.' Remember that 拙 has a negative connotation, while 卓 is positive. Use 拙 in informal settings or when you want to express humility about your own abilities.
拙 or something close to it
笨 (bèn) - use 拙 (zhuō) when emphasizing a lack of finesse or skill in a more nuanced, humble way, whereas 笨 (bèn) is more straightforwardly about being stupid or foolish.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 拙 by using it in contexts where a more neutral term is appropriate. For instance, saying '这幅画太拙了' (This painting is too clumsy) might sound too harsh; a better choice could be '这幅画有点简单' (This painting is a bit simple).
Write 拙
拙
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Practice writing 拙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 拙
拙 carries 8 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
亚历山德拉穿着那身过时的衣裳，显得臃肿笨____。
Alexandra looked plump and awkward in her cast-off clothing.
Example Sentences for 拙 (10)
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1
亚历山德拉穿着那身过时的衣裳，显得臃肿笨拙。
yà lì shān dé lā chuān zháo nà shēn guò shí de yī cháng， ， xiǎn dé yōng zhǒng bèn。
Alexandra looked plump and awkward in her cast-off clothing.
2
一群大象缓慢而笨拙地穿过平原，朝水潭走去。
yī qún dà xiàng huǎn màn ér bèn zhuō dì chuān guò píng yuán， ， zhāo shuǐ tán zǒu。
A herd of elephants lolloped across the plains towards a watering hole.
3
他还在为别人批评他尽管最终胜出但表现笨拙感到闷闷不乐。
tā huán zài wéi bié rén pī píng tā jìn guǎn zuì zhōng shèng chū dàn biǎo xiàn bèn zhuō gǎn dào mèn mèn bù lè。
He is still smarting over criticism of his victorious but clumsy performance.
4
他本想表现得风趣一点，却弄巧成拙地冒犯了别人。
tā běn xiǎng biǎo xiàn dé fēng qù yī diǎn， ， què nòng qiǎo chéng zhuō dì mào fàn le bié。
In a misguided attempt to be funny, he manages only offensiveness.
